The church and the desire to jump overboard
By Evangelist Donna M Scott
For the St. Louis American
In the book of Jonah, chapter one and verse eleven, Jonah is asked a question by those on the ship that he purposed to use as an escape vehicle: “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” It is the popular teaching to depict Jonah’s reply as one of Godly inspiration, but it is more indicative of his despondency with God’s plan for his life.
Choosing not to do the will of God was equivalent to death for Jonah. How could he live knowing his purpose while at the same time choosing to disagree with God?
“Go ahead throw me overboard” was his permanent decision for a temporary situation. Why didn’t Jonah simply jump overboard? I dare not say that Jonah was possibly suicidal, yet he wanted to position himself to be seen as a man of God and subsequently find some kind of valor in having died at the hands of those who would be saved.
Noble, isn’t it? I wonder; because Jonah’s desire to die continued to the end of the book. So his request to throw him overboard does appear to be a personal desire to escape from his present situation at the hands of others.
How many of us in the face of adversity and crisis find ourselves flirting with a desire to leave all of our difficulties behind? Like Jonah, we may not take our own lives, but death becomes more appetizing than life.
“Suicide” has been a hush, hush word in the church. We simply direct one to the New Testament account of Judas and satisfy ourselves with the thought that the moral of the story would sway an individual to choose life. But many of us continue to struggle with suicidal feelings and can’t seek counseling among us.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15-24. And, yes, those numbers are reflective of the African American community. It’s easy for us to just turn our heads, but I believe that the church is still the incubator for the cures of the world.
Our young people are suffering with decisions about sexuality, abstinence, gang involvement, substance abuse, broken families and a church that refuses to be “real” in many cases. Without answers and a way out, they wander without direction. These are those we will call the “Children of Jonah.”
Let us press to provide a sanctuary that will provide unconditional love and understanding. Let us give our young people permission to talk without condemning them. What a difference can be made in a life when compassion is recognized.
When one chooses death over life, it takes wise servants to intervene. A despondent mind has difficulty embracing the possibilities of life, so we must encourage them that the life God promised is in abundance.
The Children of Jonah: Who will fight for these? Who will reach for these?
Through Unmasking Suicide, we desire to equip and encourage the religious community to intervene and participate in areas of crisis, such as depression, suicidal ideas and other areas of mental wellness. The Children of Jonah are real. How ready are you to face the realness of the day?
